by Sarah Trask
Class of 2025

Background

Dr. Patrick Osborne completed his undergraduate degree at Morehead State University in Kentucky where he was a student-athlete. He got his master’s degree there and then went on to Trevecca Nazarene University in Tennessee where he earned his doctorate. Osborne spent 20 years in corporate America at a very large advertising company before getting into Christian higher education. He has been employed in Christian higher education for the past decade. Today, he is a faculty member at Crown College serving as the Executive Director of Online + Graduate Admissions for the School of Online Studies. He also teaches online business and leadership classes. 

Leading Faith-Centered Classes

Professor Osborne’s classes encourage the creation of a community built on Christian principles. Even though the classes are online, a supportive and spiritually nurturing environment grows among the participants, he said. “Just about every lesson is always tied back to scripture. No matter your walk of life or what type of work you do, we just really reinforce the importance of a personal relationship with Christ,” Osborne said. “It’s not uncommon, even in online interaction, for there to be an exchange where you get prayer requests, or you see students praying for one another or asking for prayer. I think the way we go about treating each other, we try to be Christlike in our interactions.”  

Endorsing Future Success 

Dr. Osborne says he desires to positively influence the lives of his students by nurturing them to reach their full potential. “I want to make sure that I do my part in changing their trajectory in life to honor God.  Helping people find success is something that I am passionate about. Seeing someone else be successful makes my job very rewarding.” 

Q&A

Question: What class/classes are you most passionate about teaching and why? 
Answer: “Strategic Planning, and Leadership in Management. I’m passionate about those because I believe a lot of places teach planning and do it well, but we focus on the execution of the plan and that is really important in being successful.”

Question: What is your teaching style and how does it inspire academic excellence in your students?
Answer: “I want my students to be curious. I want them to ultimately seek and find truth. In order to do that you have to be bold, and you have to ask bold questions. You have to be able to be persistent when you don’t like the answers you are given. I encourage my students to continue to boldly lean into their curiosity.  ”

Question: What advice would have been helpful when you were a student?
Answer: “I’d tell them to see how they can apply seemingly menial coursework to something that is a very practical, real-world scenario. Learning sticks better if there is something that you can apply it to in real life.”

Question: What is your favorite thing about being a professor at Crown College?
Answer: : “I like helping people! Most of my students are in a place in their lives where they are trying to change their circumstances for themselves and their families. I like being able to help them achieve their goals.”